A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE LORD JESUS

Mark 1:21-35 

Introduction: I want to make a few opening remarks before getting into the message itself.  I did not research this statement.  I heard another preacher say this and since it will not have any bearing upon the teaching of the passage but on the Book of Mark, I feel that I can repeat it without exploring its validity.  The book of Mark is the first book that is translated into new languages.  Why?  Its simplicity is the reason.   One of the most important words in this book are the words “straightway” and “immediately”.  They are in the book thirty-six times.  But the Strong’s number for the Greek word is 2112 and that is found forty times.  So I looked at these words that also had this number.  They were “forthwith” and “as soon as”.  Isn’t like our Lord’s earth ministry?  He did miracles immediately.  In fact, this book of the Gospels is full of them. 

      Just a few more introductory remarks and we will get into the message itself.  All that the Lord Jesus is and what He does is found in the Scriptures.  Any thing that people say that is not here is anything but make believes and is probably heresy.

      To see this book its truest light, you must see how is viewed in relation to the other three gospels.  In Matthew, we see the Lord Jesus as the Sovereign king.  In Mark, we see the Lord Jesus as the Servant of God to man.  In Luke, we see Him as the Son of Man.  And in the book of John, we see Him as the Son of God.

      In the book of Mark we can see in several spheres.   First of all we see that the Lord Jesus exercised His Sovereignty.  He is Lord over all.

                                                Colossians 1:16-17

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

      He showed Himself to be the Sovereign these three spheres.  But let me say this that in these three spheres, He showed that He could and did meet the deep needs of those who came into contact with Him.  Every person in this world has deep needs.  If you try to hand them, you could go crazy.  But if you let Him meet those needs, the problem is solved in ways you would not believe.  The spheres are those in our passage today.  He met the deep needs in the House of God.  Many churches have people in them with deep needs but are unable to meet those needs.  Instead they are discouraged and divided.  So how can the Lord meet those needs of folks who come to the House of God if the church is not ready for these people because the petty things that discourage and divide a church?

  Then He meet the deep needs in the domestic of the home.  Many homes are broken and discontent.  In this passage, we will look at how He meet the deep need in that home.

      Last sphere is that He can meet the deep needs of this diseased world.  In fact, much disease and I am talking of physical disease is spread because of sin.  But that is not the deep needs of the world.  The deep needs of the world is disease of sin.  It is the disease of an incurable heart condition that comes from sin. Jeremiah 17:9-10

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

      That phrase “desperately wicked” means incurably ill.  But I find this promise in the Word of God in regards to the heart. Ezekiel 36:26

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

      How do you get that new heart? John 1:12-13

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

                                                Romans 10:9-10

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

      I am glad that I know that the Lord meet the deep needs of a diseased heart.  He did mine on May 10, 1972.   He changed my life. 2^nd Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

      Each part of our Lord’s Day in this passage of scripture is broken down to three times of the day.  Each of shows how He meet the deep needs present at that time of Day.

I.  MORNING SCENE Vs. 21-28

“And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.”

      He is going to meet a deep need in the house of God.

A. Where did He go?  He went to the synagogue.  Two truths can be found here.

      1. It was His custom to be assembled with others folks.

                              Luke 4:16

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.”

             2. Since the Lord Jesus practiced this important aspect of the life of a believer, it behooves us to do the same. 

                                           Hebrews 10:25

                   “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

                               When a man or woman says that they are saved and they don’t seem to have even a small desire to be with fellow believers, it is good possibility that they are not saved or the Lord is a respecter of persons.  He convicted me to be in the house of God.  But we know that the Lord is not a respecter of persons.

                                           Acts 10:34

                   “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons”

                                           Romans 2:11

                   “For there is no respect of persons with God.”

                               I have had folks tell me that this is only my opinion.  Number one, I used the Word of God to present my case.  Secondly, I have the word from the Lord on this subject but also to cover other areas in which I teach and preach.

                                           Romans 3:4

                   “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

         B. What was doing?  He was teaching.  I was wondering why He had the liberty to teach that day.  Here is what I learned from Albert Barnes.  “In the synagogue, the presiding elder, after reading the Scriptures, invited any who chose to address the people. Though our Saviour was not a priest of the Levitical order, or an officer of the synagogue, yet we find him often availing himself of this privilege, and delivering his doctrines to the Jews.”

                           It seems strange that a perfect stranger would be able to teach and preach in a service but then again this is not any ordinary stranger.  This is the Son of God.   Think of the truths that He imparted to them.  No wonder that they were astonished at His doctrine.  He spoke with authority.  He had the authority of the Father.  He is the authority in which teaching and preach is to be done.   Another word for authority is power.  Christ has the power and authority to Christ’s Power to save, and to pardoning.  His power and authority is infinite.  It is over nature and over His own Life.  His power is life giving, wonder working and it demonstrated in it greatest picture by his Resurrection.   It is important also to note that they were astonished and not entertained by the Lord Jesus.  There was no confusion in His teaching.  It was plain, clear and concise.

                           What was He teaching?  He was teaching doctrine.  Doctrine is one of the areas that we must teach and preach.  It is listed as the first reason why we have the scripture.

                                             2^nd Timothy 3:16-17

               “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

                           (Let me put a quick postscript here.  I plan to teach on the importance of doctrine in the near future also.  It is needful for us to see this truth as seen in the light of the Bible for our lives.)

         C. What happened?  A great need was about to be met.  A demon called out from a man who was there that day.  If the demon knew that the Lord Jesus was going to show up at the synagogue, it would probably lead the man to stay at home that day.  This demon knew who Jesus was really.  He declared Him as the Holy One of God.  Demons don’t like to be around when Jesus is around.  The demon probably called out to distract from the teaching of the Lord Jesus.  Jesus commanded the demon to leave the man and this saying showed His sovereignty over the devils.  The demon left and it really brought more astonishment.  But this astonishment exalted the Lord Jesus.  His fame grew.  Since He never gets the big head, it behooves to make sure we give the Lord the credit what happens when Jesus does some thing great.

         D. What application needs to be seen here?  Probably the most important deals with His teaching.  Three quick thoughts so we can move on into the next sphere.

             1. His teaching is authoritative in His declaration of doctrine.  Our church should be known for a plain declaration of doctrine.

             2. His teaching was authoritative in its denouncement of sin.  He never allowed sin to go on without taking care of the seriousness of sin.  He was harder on his disciples than He was on the ones in the world. 

             3. His teaching was authoritative in the demonstration of deliverance.  This man was delivered from this demon.  It was a direct result of His teaching.   

II.  AFTERNOON SCENE Vs. 29-31

“And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.  And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.”

      He is going to meet a deep need of the home.  There are a host of truths found in these three verses.  I will probably touch the hem of garment only.

      One truth is here.  Peter could not been the first pope.  He had a mother-in-law just like I do.  How did he get a mother-in-law?  The same way I did.  I got married.  You don’t have to have one eye or half sense to figure that out. 

      A fever can leave you in bed.  They did not have Tylenol or even a simple aspirin.  In the Middle East, they did not even have ice to help bring down a fever.  After what happened in the house of God, they immediately told him of the deep need in this home.  How do I know this?  It is in the word “anon”.  I was not sure what this word meant until I looked it up.  It was the same number in the Strong’s as immediately. 

      When we have a deep need in our homes, we need to tell it to Jesus.  We have an audience with the KING of kings. Hebrews 4:14-16

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

      Here was the deep need in this home.  They came to Jesus and then business picked up.  I had a spell over those next three words- “And He came”.  I was thinking about all the incidents that Jesus came.  He came to Bethany and his friend Lazarus was raised from the dead.  He came to Jairus’ home and his little girl was raised from the dead.  He came to Jericho and Zacchaeus was saved.  He came to Gardara and the demon-possessed man was delivered.  May 10, 1972, Jesus came to where I was and saved me.

      He did not lay hands on her.  He did not slay her in the spirit.  I took by her hand and helped her up.  Just think He did not even pray over her.  He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet.  What happens when Jesus shows up in a home where there is a deep need?  In this case, a fever did not break but it left her immediately.  You can have fever to break and it show back up.  A fever can be a sign of an infection.  Where this fever came from, we don’t know but we do know it left her.  She did not even have a period of convalesce.  She went to work to minister to the Lord Jesus.  We are not told what she made for the Lord Jesus but it was probably His favorite. 

      What are some of the applications can be seen here?

1. The Lord delights to come to our homes. 

2. He will wants to meet the deep needs of homes.  I think about some of deep needs of some people I know.  I know by personal experience that He will meet those deep needs. 

3. The Lord detests disorder in the home.  One of the challenges that we face in our boys ministry is the boys have never known what the Bible order is for a home.  So as they grow up, all they know is disorder.  One of the long-term goals for our boys is years down the road.  We want them get married and be a father to their children and a husband to their wives.  It is a rarity in the black community to see this.  It is becoming a rarity in the white community also.

4. When the mother is sick, this usually brings disorder to the home.  Jesus brought order to this home. 

5. Since the Lord delights to visit our homes, it behooves to make our homes right so if physically he visited our homes, what would He find?  Here is a little poem about that.

IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE 

If Jesus came to your house, to spend a day or two.

If he came without warning, I wonder what you'd do. 

Yes if Jesus came to your house, to spend a day or two.

If he came unexpected, just dropped in on you. 

Ah I know you'd give you nicest room, to such an honored guest.

And all the food you'd serve to him would be your very best. 

And you would keep reassuring him, that you're glad to have him there.

That serving him in your home, Is joy beyond compare. 

But when you saw him coming, would you meet him at the door,

With arms out stretched in welcome, to your heavenly visitor. 

Or would you have to change you clothes, before you'd let him in.

Or hide some magazines, and put the Bible where they had been. 

Would you turn off the radio, and hope he hadn't heard.

And wish you hadn't uttered, that last loud hasty word. 

Would you hide your worldly music, and put some hymnbooks out.

Could you just let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about. 

And I wonder, if the Saviour spent a day or two with you.

Would you go right on doing, the things you always do. 

Would you go right on saying, the things you always say.

Would life for you continue, as it does from day to day. 

Would your family conversations, Keep up its usual pace.

And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace. 

Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read?

And let him know the things on which you mind and spirit feed. 

Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you planned to go?

Or maybe would you change your plans, for just a day or so. 

Would you be glad to have him meet your very closest friends?

Or hope that they'd stay away, until his visit ends. 

Would you be glad to have him stay forever on and on?

Or would you sigh with great relief, when he at last was gone. 

It might be interesting to know the things that you would do,

If Jesus came in person, to spend some time with you.

If Jesus came to your house, I wonder what you'd do. 

                        What day it has been so far!  Let’s look at the last part of the day. 

III. EVENING SCENE Vs. 32-34

“And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.”

      Now I saved a thought from the morning scene to now.  In the morning scene, it was the Sabbath.  They could not travel more than half-a-mile, the distance to which, according to Jewish tradition, it was allowable to travel on the Sabbath day without violating the law.  But this is evening.  That new preacher down at the Sabbath was going to meet the deep needs of the diseased world.  Two things stick out here.  The entire city came.  All of the diseased were brought to Him.  The demon-possessed folks were brought unto Him.  What this passage says plainly that many were healed and delivered.  All were not delivered or healed.  Why?  Some people don’t want to be delivered or healed.  They like it too much. 

      Demon possession is a far greater problem in our day than it was in that day.  We have more sinful influences around our world today.  Part of the reason why we see this evil progress comes down to a document called the Humanist Manifesto.

      I want to give these basic tenets.  One of them is atheism.  Since there is no God, there are no absolutes.   Yet when it comes to an absolute they are absolutely sure there are no absolutes.  That is one reason why they want the Ten Commandments taken down in public buildings. 

      The other tenet is evolution.  Since there is no God, you have to figure out how man came along. Easy, let’s just say that man evolved from a simple cell creature.  First we were tadpoles swimming the sea.  Then we were monkeys swinging from the tree.  Now we are professors with PhDs. 

      The next tenet is amoralism.  This means that there are no morals to trip you up.  Since you don’t have a god and you evolve from monkeys and there are no morals, is it any wonder that children act more like animals?

      Rock music is still mostly about sex, drugs, and rebellion.  This is a door that opens for demon-possession. 

      This sin sick world needs a great Saviour.  I have great need and I have a Great Saviour to help with my need.  We don’t know how long this event lasted.  But it seems that the Lord Jesus did not even have time for “Baptist nap”.  Why?  Many people had deep needs and He was willing and able to meet those needs. 

Conclusion: In verse thirty-five, we find a problem in the ministry of our Lord Jesus while here on earth.  His body that is like our body limited him.  That was why in verse thirty-five we find Him praying over who should be his twelve disciples.  One preacher said, “Don’t do the work of twelve men but get twelve men to do the work.” 

      What a day that was!  He is busy doing the work of His Father from morning to night and until early morning. 

      I do want to say this.  A human body no longer limits him.  He is limitless.  That is why Paul penned these words to the church in Ephesus.

                                                Ephesians 3:20-21

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

      This day in the life of our Saviour should give us several practical applications.

1. We should be busy in our days for the Lord.

2. There are many deep needs that are out there that our Lord can met but people don’t know that He can.  It is up to us to take that message to them.

3. If there is someone here with a deep need, you need to come to Jesus who will meet your need.